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I can’t be the only person tired of getting on my Facebook feed and inwardly (or sometimes audibly) groaning at seeing another link to an article about leggings or vaccines (hello Kristen Bell – I don’t think I’ll ever get the chance to hold your baby anyway, but thanks for the heads up!) or 50 Shades of Grey.

The crazy thing is, it’s not even because I don’t agree with what’s being said. I have definite stances on each of these issues. I am tired of them because of the hateful responses the topics bring out. And from brothers and sisters in Christ. I am appalled at the language and verbiage and utter distain I have seen being shown toward those we are supposedly going to be spending eternity with. What must our Heavenly Father be thinking? Over leggings?!?

It’s almost as if we want to be able to form a mental checklist of our friends – well so and so agrees with me on vaccines. Ohh, that friend from church doesn’t. She thinks I shouldn’t wear leggings?!? Why are we doing this to ourselves? What is the real point?

I am not saying that we shouldn’t discuss matters of sin – although I question whether or not the internet is really the right forum for that either. In Matthew 6-7, Jesus talks a lot about the hypocrites going about their worship in public to be seen – how they would pray standing in the street corners. To some extent, I feel that’s how some of these blogs and topics are being spread. I don’t know the hearts of the people, and it’s not for me to pass judgment, but what is the point of writing or passing on a topic condemning someone – is it to “inform” them of their sin to change them? Does that ever work? Jesus shared with people in a relational way to bring them the Good News, shouldn’t we do the same – not blast them anonymously or long-distance over the Internet?

There was a recent study done at the Beihang University in China that shows rage goes viral faster than happiness, pride, or disgust. RAGE. ANGER. HATE. That’s what we’re promoting online. And at record speeds. And I believe if we’re honest, it’s no different in the “Christian” community. What comments did you read about the leggings issues? Vaccines? 50 Shades of Grey? I know the ones I read. They were filled with rage and anger and hate.

John 13:35 says, “By this all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Are we showing that when a Christian mom in Oregon shares her thoughts on why she will no longer wear leggings in public and we verbally crucify her publicly on website after website? Are we loving each other when we mock women for their “mundane” sex lives when they state they will not see 50 Shades of Grey? WHERE IS OUR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER???

The study did show there was one emotion that went viral faster than rage – AWE. That’s right, awe.

Psalm 33:8 says, “Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.”

Let’s stop spreading the rage and start spreading awe. Like some random acts of kindness. Or showing how God has answered prayers. Or miracles – He still does those you know!